Springi



W. A. HOL.

SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.21, |921.

Lu Patented Nov. m, w22',

2 SHEETS-SHEE 2.

Patented Nov. Ml, 1922.

UNTD STTS @FFEQFM WILLIAM A. HOLT, 0F MEBANE, 'NORTH CAROLINA.

SPRING.

.Application filed October 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HoL'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at ebane, in the county of Alamance and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and usefulv Improvements in Springs, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to bed and other springs, of either the truncated cone or double cone type, or other types wherein the spring is made up of a series of rows of spiral spring elements.

Ordinarily, in such springs, the various spring elements or coils are retained in properly spaced relationship by means of various cross or tie wires connecting the coils or spirals to each other and to the top and bottom frames of the spring. Consequently when the weight of a persons body is imposed on the spring the entire spring structure sags between the supporting members of the frames.

The primary purpose of this invention is to provide a bed spring which overcomes this objection by eliminating either or both the upper and lower cross or tie wires suspended from the upper' and lower frames and so constructing and connecting the coils and frames of the spring that each coil will function practically independently of the others and yet present a smooth, iiexible mattress surface. The individual coils in the preferred form are each provided at the top with an integral extension which, when the coil is assembled in the spring structure, is adapted to pivotally connect the tops of the coils together to obtain the desired independent action of each coil.

The simplicity of the construction enables the spring to be readily assembled by an inexperienced workman and should a coil be broken, it may readily be removed and another inserted in its place without the necessity of tearing the spring to pieces or returning it to the manufacturer for repairing. The construction is also designed to prevent spreading or slipping of the colls and consequently distortion of the spring.

In the drawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by like' reference numerals throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary plan view of a bed spring embodying the invention, the lower frame and its cross wires being omitted for clearness;

Serial No. 509,280.

Fig. 2, a section taken on line 2*2 of F ig. l, with the lower frame and its cross wires in place;

Fig. 3, a perspective of one of the truncated cone spring elements or coils used in the spring shown in Figs. 1 and 2; l Fig. 4, a perspective of the pivotal locking connection between the arm of a spring element or coil and the corresponding coil of the adjoining row; and

'Fig 5, a. perspective of a double-cone spring element or coil constructed according to the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the spring structure is shown as comprising an upper frame 1 and a lower frame 2 of heavy gauge wire to which the spring coils 3 are connected as will be described later. Each coil 3 consists of a spiral spring in the form of an inverted truncated cone, having a flat circular top 4l. In order to provide a rigid top construction for the coil 3 which will not tend to spread or become distorted, the end convolution of the wire which forms the coil has an offset portion 5 at its top about which the wire forming the spring element is completely looped at 6 to form an interlock for the complete circular top 4, of the coil. The wire of the spring element in forming` this loop is first extended on the outside of the spring element vacross or beyond the olfset portion 5 and then completelylooped about the offset, whereby in the formation of the loop the wire may be readily bent or wound about the odset 5. The wire is then continued outward horizontally and radially of the top 4L of the coil to form a short arm 7. The wire is then bent back on itself to form a short vertical loop 8, and is then bent horizontally at right angles to arm 7 to provide an elongated arm 9 having a vertical eye 10 at its outer end. Diametrically opposite loop 6, the top 4l of the coil is provided with a horizontal loop 11 while the lower end of the wire at the bottom of the coil is formed with a hook l2, the purpose of which will appear later, When the spring is assembled, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper ends of the outer coils 3 are secured to the upper frame 1 by means of the usual clips or clasps 13. If the truncated cone type of coil is used, the usual longitudinal supporting wires 14, attached at their ends to the lower frame 2 and having odset portions l5, are provided to support and position the coils 3, while crosswires 16 passing through the coils serve to secure the lower ends of the coils against movement. The lower ends of coils 3- are further held in place by the engagement of hooks 12 ot the coils with the wires 14.

In the spring structure, coils 3 are arranged in parallel rows as shown in Fig. 1, with loop S of each coil engaging with loop 11 ol.l top d of the corresponding coil in the adjoining row. Eye 10 at the end of arm 9 of each coil 3 is then secured about loop 8 between arm 9 ot the adjoining coil 3 in that row and the top 4 of the diagonally opposite coil 3 in the adjoining row, as shown in Fig. 4:, thereby firmly securing the coils in their proper positions. lt will thus be seen that pivotal connections are provided between coils 3 transversely of the spring by the connection ot loops 8 and 11 oi the coils in adjoining rows. At opposite ends of trame 1, it is necessary to provide short. links 17 having a hook 18 to secure it to frame 1 and a hook 19 securing the link to the connection between the adjoining end coils 3, in order to maintain the proper longitudinal arrangement of the coils. Thus, the coils 3 are pivotally connected to each other and to the frame 1 both transversely and longitudinally of the spring thereby permitting each coil to act independently of the others when compressed.

In Fig. 5, the invention is shown as applied to the double cone type of coil and the upper part of this coil is of exactly the same construction as the upper part of the truncated cone coil shown in Fig. 5, and the lower part is the same except that it is inverted with both linlrs 9 extending in the same direction, the detailed description of the truncated cone coil applies equally well to both types.

When the double cone coils are used, the

upper and lower frames ot the spring are ot course duplicates, and longitudinal wires le and cross wires 146 are not necessary.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated, and it is not intended to restrict the invention except as limited by the appended claims.

vWhat is claimed is 1. A spiral spring construction wherein the spirals are provided at one end with L.-v shaped extensions the inner arms ot which project radially outward ifronr the end convolutions of the spirals, said extensions being pivotally connected at their angles to the end convolutions ot corresponding spirals in adjoining rows, while the outer arms of said extensions are pivotally connected to the extensions of adjoining spirals in the same row at the connections of said last mentioned extensions with the corresponding spirals in adjoining rows.

`E2.. A spiral spring construction wherein the spirals are provided at one end with L- shaped extensions produced from the wire which forms the spirals, the inner arms of said extensions projecting outwardly from the end convolutions ot the spirals and pivotally connected to the end convolutions of corresponding spirals in adjoining rows and to the extensions ot adjoining spirals in the same row.

3. A spiral spring construction wherein the spirals are arranged in rows`,said spirals being formed at their ends with extensions pivotally connecting the end convolutions of corresponding spirals in adjoining rows at points substantially in line' with the centers of said convolutions, the extensions also being pivotally connected at their outer ends to the extensions of adjoining spirals in the same row.

4. A spiral spring construction wherein the spirals are arranged in rows, the end convolutions of the spirals having loops formed therein and integral extensions diametrically opposite said loops pivotally. connected to the4 loops in the corresponding spirals of adjoining rows in line with the centers of said convolutions, said extensions also being pivotally connected at their outer ends to the extensions on the adjoining spirals in the same row at the pivotal connections of said last mentioned extensions with the corresponding spirals in adjoining rows.

5. A spiral spring construction wherein the spirals are arranged in rows, the end convolutions of the spirals having horizontal loops formed therein and integral L-shaped extensions diametrically opposite said loops, said extensions being pivotally connected by vertical loops at their angles to the hori- Zontal loops in corresponding. spirals of adjoining rows, while the outer arms of said extensionsv are provided with eyes at their ends encircling saidl loops at the angles in the extensions of adjoining spirals in the same row between the outer arms ofvsaid extensions andl said horizontal loops in the corresponding spirals of adjoining rows.

6. A spiral spring element for spring structures the end convolution of which has a horizontal loop and a diametrically-opposed vertical which latter the wire forming the element is looped on the return bend of said convolution to provide a rigid end for the element, said wire forming said loop being continued to produce an inner radial arm projecting outwardly from said convolution, a vertical loop at the end of said arm, an outer arm extending at right angles to said inner arm and a vertical eye at the end of said outer arm.

7. A spiral yspring element Jfor spring structures, the end convolution of which is provided with a vertical offset about which o-fsset formed therein about the Wire forming the element is completely looped on the return bend of 'said convolution to provide a rigid circular end for said element, the Wire in forming said loop being rst extended on the outside of thethe offset, the Wire formingv looped on the return bend of said convolu- 15 tion to provide a rigid circular end for said element, the wire in forming said loop being first extended on the outside of the spring element across the offset and then looped about the offset beneath the return bend of 20 said end convolution, the Wire forming said loop being continued to provide an eXtension projecting horizontally outward from said end convolution.

In testimony vvhereoil I have signed my 25 name to this specification.

WILLIAM A. HoLT.' 

